Switch



April 1933- v H. E. NORVIEL ET AL 1,906,083

SWITCH Filed May 22, 1931- Harry 1 )Vorvie/ 4114 Vance f'coff' Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. NOBVIEL AND VANCE ECOI'F, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO DELCO- BEKY OOBPOBATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SWITCH Application filed lay 22,

This invention relates to electric switches adapted for mounting upon and controlled through the steering column of an automotive vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch unit that is capable of being manufactured at a low cost and will be ethcient and certain in its operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the present invention taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 2-2, 33, and 44, respectively of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 20 designates a switch structure having a cupshaped casing or housing with a fiat end w all 21 and a cylindrical side wall 22. The wall 21 is provided with a plurality of bosses or projections 23 punched inwardly, and a partially sheared portion bent inwardly to form a stop 24, as shown in Fig. 1. The cylindrical wall 22 is adapted to secure a non-conducting switch back 25 carrying rivets 26 which provide the stationary switch contacts 27 that are electricaii connected with various terminal brackets 28. Cooperating with the back is an insulating spacer 29 provided with a plurality of apertures 30 registering respectively with the raised portions of the contact heads 27 to insure a flush surface so that a movable contact plate 50 having spherical bosses or projections 51 may freely ride upon. or off the contacts 27. The periphery of the back 25 and the spacer are notched to receive tongues or tangs 32 extending from the. cylindrical wall 22 and the tangs are bent at 33 against the back to secure the same to the housing 20. The wall 22 is secured to a bracket 34 in any suitable manner. The bracket 34 is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the lower end of an automotive vehicle steering gear element (not 1981. Serial No. 539,210.

shown). The wall and bracket are apertured at 35 and 36 respectively to receive one end of an actuating rod 37, and the other end terminating in a control mechanism of a steering wheel (not shown).

\Vithin the housing is a dielectric contact support or plate 40 having arms or lugs 41, 42 and 43, each of said arms being notched at 44. The plate 40 has a central opening 45 provided with keys or lugs 46 that fit into notches 47 of a tubular driving shaft 48 to provide a driving relation therewith yet allowing the plate to move axially of the shaft. The plate 40 has a plurality of recesses 49 adjacent the wall 22 that are adapted to register with the bosses or projections 23.

The stationary contacts 27 are engaged by certain spherical projections 51 provided on a triangular shaped contact plate 50. The plate is apertured to surround the driving shaft 48 so as to have axial movement therewith, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with arms 52 slidable in the notches 44 of the lugs 41, 42 and 43 and bent over, as at '53, to limit separation of the contact plate 51 from the plate 40, yet permitting the plates 40 and 50 to approach each other. Interposed between the plates 40 and 50 and surrounding the shaft 48,is a coiled spring 54 adapted to urge the lates 40 and 51 apart.

T e switch back 25 is provided with an aperture to provide a bearing for a reduced portion 60 of the driving shaft 48 that extends exteriorly of the switch housing. The actuating shaft 37 passes through the switch unit and is fixed to the driving shaft by tightening a nut 63 upon threaded fingers 62 which are integral with the shaft 48 and which are spaced by longitudinal notches 61. Rotation of the shafts 37 and 48 relative to the case 22 is limited by the lugs 41 and 42 of the plate 40. The adjacent end surfaces of the lugs 41 and 42 are adapted to strike the stop 24 in order to limit the rotation of the shafts 37 and 48.

It is obvious that the spring 54 has two functions, one being to urge the contact projections 51 against the stationary contacts 27 of the switch back 25 and the other being to hold firmly the recesses 49 of the plate 40 over the projections 23 of the wall 21 in order to yieldingly retain the contact plate 50 in a desired position. The recesses and the projections are so located with respect to each other and to the switch contacts, that for each position of the switch contact member 50 the three projections 23, which are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. will be received by three of the recesses it). In this way the movable contact 50 is yieldingly retained in different operating positions. The stop 24 of the case cooperates with the arms 41 and 42 whereby the rotation of the dielectric member 40' is limited.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

\Vhat is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising in combination; a housing having parallel walls, one of which is provided with stationary contacts; a rotatable nonconducting member having a plurality of peripheral arms; a contact plate loosely connected to the arms of the nonconducting member to permit relative axial movement therewith but restraining rotary movement thereof; a shaft for driving the nonconducting member; a resilient means surrounding the driving shaft and interposed between the contact plate and the nonconducting member urging said members apart; and means cooperating with two of said arms to limit the movement of said non-conducting member in either direction of rotation.

2. An electric switch comprising in combination; a casing having end walls, one of which is provided with stationary contacts and the other with projections; a rotatable nonconducting member having spaced arms on the periphery thereof; a contact member adjacent the stationary contacts, said member having tangs loosely mounted on said nonconducting member; and means disposed between the contact member and the nonconducting member for urging the noncon ducting member against the projections and the contact member against the stationary contacts, a driving member operatively connected for the rotation of said non-conducting member; and means cooperating with two of said spaced arms to limit the move ment of said member in either direction.

3. In an electric switch, the combination comprising a case having an end wall provided with stationary contacts; a movable contact member rotatable within a case adj acent the stationary contacts; a nonconducting member radially extending arms rotatable adjacent the other end wall of the case, said member supporting said movable contact member against rotary movement relative to each other but permitting axial movement thereof; resilient means interposed between the contact member and the nonconductin member to urge said members adjacent t eir end walls; a shaft extending through said resilient means and adapted for driving the nonconducting plate and also ex tending through one of said walls; an actuating rod extending through both of said walls; means for connecting the driving shaft to the actuating shaft to rotate the nonconducting member; and a projection extcndin from one of said walls cooperating with sai arms limiting the movement of said non-conducting member in either direction of rotation.

4. In an electric switch, the combination comprising a housing having a pair of walls, one of which is provided with stationary contacts, and the other with a stop, a movable contact member adapted to engage said stationary contacts; a dielectric member rotatable within said housing and having a pluralitv of lugs, having means for supporting sai contact member, two of said lugs adapted to cooperate with said stop to limit the rotation of said movable member, and means for actuating said dielectric member.

5. An electric switch comprising in combination; a housing having parallel walls, one of which is provided with stationary contacts, a non-conducting plate having radially projecting lugs provided with notches; a movable contact having arms loosely engaging said notches to provide a driving connection between the plate and contact and permitting relative axial move ment between the plate and contact; a spring for urging the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contacts, a driving member connected with said plate to promote rotary movement to the plate and contacts and means extending from the other wall and located in the arcuate path of two of said lugs, said means cooperating with said two lugs to limit the movement of said plate in either direction of rotation.

In testimony whereof we hereto afiix our signatures.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. VANCE ECOFF. 

